Elevator



(No Model.)v G' Wl W. PERKINS- l ZSheets-Sheet 1.

BLEVATOR.-

Patented Sept. 29, 1896.

Patented Sept. 29, 1896. t

ELEVATOR.

Ae. W. W. PERKINS.

v @e0/"j Eg UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCEe GEORGE IV. IV. PERKINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,410, dated September 29, 1896.

Application filed April 18, 1896.

cago, in the county ofOook and State of Illi-,

nois, have invented a certain new` and useful 'Improvement in Elevators, (Oase No. 1,) of

which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partv Fig. iis a sectional vieW on line 4 4; of Fig. 2.

of this specification. v

My invention relates to passenger or freight elevators, and has for its objects, first, to provide an improved form of clutch mechanism for operating the controller cable or rope controlling the elevator-engine, and, second, to provide an improved form of safety appliance adapted to prevent the operation of the controller-cable by the attendant While the door to the elevator is open.

Generally speaking, the preferred form of the iirst feature of my invention consists of a pair of clutch-blocks disposed about the controllercable and flexibly mounted beneath the car, With which blocks is associated lever mechanism adapted, upon being operated by the attendantto release the engagement'of said blocks with said controller-cable, this engagement being preserved, in the absence of counter influence by said lever mechanism, by clampingsprings mounted upon a rod passing through the clutch blocks, which springs press said clutch blocks together about the cable.

The preferred form of the second feature of my invention consists of a plunger adapted to reciprocate in a plane at right angles to the clutch-operating lever, a lever being articulated to said plunger, one portion whereof is placed in juxtaposition With the elevatordoor and is adapted to be operated thereby as the door is being opened and closed. The door to the elevator, upon being opened, engages the plunger-actuating lever, whereby the plunger is moved beneath the clutch-actuating lever to prevent the same from being operated, the clutch-blocks engaging the controller-cable when the parts are in this position to prevent said cable from being shifted. IVhen the door is being closed, it engages the plunger-actuating lever and causes the same to Withdraw the plunger from beneath the Serial No. 588,091. (No model.)

cl utch-operatin lever, whereupon the attendant may release the clutch-blocks from the cable.

My invention Will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of a locking device for maintaining the plunger in either of two positions. t

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the different iigures.

The controller-cable a is illustrated as being of the usual hand-operated type, passing through the elevator Within reach of the attendant, Beneath the floor of the elevatorcar is secured a T-plate b, which supports the various elements comprising the'apparatus of my invention. TWO lugs c c are cast integrally with the plate b upon opposite sides of an opening in said plate, through which the controller-cable passes. To these lugs are secured iiexible plates CZ d, upon which are mounted the clutch-blocks e e, adapted in their closed position to grip the controllercable when the elevator-car is to be stopped or is at rest, and in their open position to allow the controller-cable to pass freely between the same when the elevator-car is to be started or is in motion. Clamping-springs ff are provided upon a rod passing through elliptical openings in the clutch-blocks e e to press said blocks into engagement With the controller-cable, said springs bearing between the plates cl CZ and heads provided upon their supporting-rod, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. To separate the clutch-blocks from the controller-cable, I provide lever mechanism, which comprises a Y-shaped lever g, pivoted at one end upon lugs g g and articulated at its other end to a plunger h, adapted to be reciprocated Within a containing-sleeve 7?/ in one direction by the pressure of the attendants foot, a button h2 being provided upon the plunger for this purpose, and in the opposite direction by a spring h3, which bears between the sleeve 7L and the button upon the plunger, a link t' pivoted at Q7 to said le- IOO ver, and links 7i; 7s, pivoted to the clutch-blocks and link t', and forming a toggle-joint, as shown in Fig.

The attendant may, for the purposes above mentioned, remove the clutch-blocks from their engagement with the controller-cable by depressing the lever g, as shown in Fig. fl, which acts upon the links i' and t 7.; to separate said blocks. IVhen the lever g is relieved from the pressure of the attendants foot, the spring 7b3 restores lever g to the position shown in Figs. l and 3, which, in as suming this position, permits the clampingsprings f j" to readvance the clamping-blocks into engagement with the controller-cable. To permit of the use of clamping-springs of less weight, whereby the work of the attendant in countcracting the same is lessened, I make the opposing faces of the clampingblocks curved, the cable being thereby bent at the point where it is clutched, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby its frietional engagement with the clutch-blocks is increased in pro portion to the strain exerted by the clampingsprings.

Referring' to Fig. 2, the attendant, after having released his foot from the button h2 and thereby having caused the clutch-blocks to engage the controller-cable to stop the clevatoncar, opens the door m in a direction opposite to the arrow. Vertically mounted upon cach elevator-doei' is a bar m, the function whereof being to reciprocate a plunger or detent n, supported in suitable guides beneath the elevator-car through the medium of a lever 0, pivotcd at o and engaging alternately with lugs n n, secured to said plunger as the elevator-doors are opened and closed. As the door is being opened the bar on in passing impinges against the lever o, which is thereby momentarily shifted to the position shown in dotted lines in the lower portion of Fig. 2. In assuming this position the lever shifts the plunger a beneath the operating-lever g, as shown in full lines in Fig. 9, thereby preventing' the depression of said operating-lever. The clutch-blocks being thus freed from the influence of lever g, the clamliing-sprin are freely permitted to secure the clutch-blocks in engagement with the controller-cable, whereby said cable is secured in an immovable position. IVhen the elevatorscar is to be started, the door is closed in the direction indicated by the arrow, the bar 2n engaging as it passes with the lever o, which is thereby momentarily shifted to the alternate position shown in dotted lines. In coming to this position the lever causes the plunger to recede from beneath lever g to the position shown in dotted lines, said leverbeingthus free to be depressed to release the clutch-blocks from the eon troller-cable. The lever 0 is placed upon. the

elevator-car near the line of the closing-jambs p of the elevator-door to prevent the withdrawal ofthe plungern` from beneath the lever f sesam g until the particular elevator-door has been nearly closed.

The normal position of the lever o is indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, a spring q, Figs. 2 and 3, secured beneath the elevator-car, being provided to restore said lever after it has been shifted to either of the dotted positions shown in Fig. 2, the bar m escaping said lever after shifting the same upon the door being opened or closed.

It will be observed that when the plunger n to be shifted from one position to another by the lever o but slight lost motion is caused between the engaging parts of said lever and plunger. To secure the plunger in either of its two alternative positions I provide the locking device illustrated in Fig. 5, which colnpriscs a screw o', screwed within the guide-post s, through which the plunger n is adapted to reciprocate, said screw containing a plunger t, provided with a hemispherical-head 1f, adapted to engage a recess t2 to secure said plunger in position beneath lever g, and a recess t3 to secure said plunger in its 'reciprocal position, springs being provided to press said plunger upwardly into engagement with said recesses.

The bar lm should be made suliiciently long to permit the engagement thereof with the lever o when the elevator occupies a position a short distance above or below the level of the floor.

It is obvious that my invention may be applied to other types of elevators than that illustrated. Modifications may be readily made without departing from the spirit oi' my invention, and I do not desire to confine myself, therefore, to the precise details of construction shown; but,

IIaving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an elevator, the combination of clutchblocks flexibly mounted upon the elevatorcar, with a rod passing' through the same, clamping-springs supported upon said rod adapted to secure the engagement of said blocks with the control1ercable of the elcvator, and lever mechanism adapted to separate said clutch-blocks, substantially as described.

2. In an elevator, the combination of a pair of clutch-blocks :flexibly mounted upon the elevator-car, with a rod passing through the same7 clamping-springs supported upon said rod adapted to advance said clutch-blocks into engagement with the controller-cable, links connecting said blocks and forming a toggle-joint, and a lever connected with said links adapted upon being actuated to separate said blocks, substantially as described.

3. In an elevator, the combination of a pair of clutclrblocks flexibly mounted upon the elevator-car, with a rod passing through the same, clampingsprings supported upon said rod adapted to advance said clutch-blocks into IOO IIO

operated by the attendant, and a spring Y adapted to restore said button and parts connected therewith when pressure is removed from said button, substantially as described.

4. In an elevator, the combination of clutchblocks and a controller-cable adapted to be engaged` thereby, with clamping-springs adapted to press said blocks into engagement With said cable, lever mechanism adapted to release said clutch -blocks from engagement with said cable, a plunger, and a lever adapted to be actuated in one direction by the elevator-door as it is being opened and to bring said plunger into the path of said lever mechanism while being thus actuated whereby said mechanism is prevented from releasing the clutch-blocks from said cable, said lever being also adapted to be actuated in a-n alternate direction by the elevator-door when being closed, whereby said plunger is removed from the path of said lever mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an elevator, the combination of clutchblocks, a controller-cable adapted to be engaged thereby, a rod passing through said clutch blocks, and clamping springs supported by said rod and adapted to press said blocks into engagement with said cable, with an actuating-lever adapted to remove said clutch-blocks from their engagement with said cable, a button connected with said lever and located preferably within reach of the attendants foot adapted upon actuation to move said lever and therebyrelease the clutchblocks from the cable, a spring to restore said button and the lever connected therewith when pressure has been removed therefrom, a plunger adapt-ed to be placed within and removed from the path of said actuating-lever, a lever adapted to be actuated by the elevator-door as it is being opened and closed, thereby causing said plunger to be placed within and removed from the path of the said actuating -lever respectively, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In an elevator, the combination of clamping mechanism, a controller-cable adapted to be engaged thereby, an actuating-lever adapted to remove said clamping mechanism from its engagement with the controller-cable, a plunger adapted to be placed within and Withdrawn from the path of said actuatinglever, a lever adapted to engage with 1said plunger to put the same Within or withdraw it from the path of the actuating-lever respectively by the elevator-door as the same is being opened and closed, lugs provided upon said plunger With which said lever is adapted to engage, and a spring disposed between said lugs adapted to restore said lever to a middle position after each actuation thereof, substantially as described.

7. In an elevator, the combination of the elevator-car, an elevator-controller, means located upon said car adapted to lock the elevator-controller, and a lever adapted to operate said means, with a detent adapted to be operated by the elevator-shaft door as it is being opened, to prevent the actuation of said lever to the position which it has when said means release said controller, substantially as described.

8. In an elevator, the combination of the elevatorcar, an elevator-controller, means located uponsaid car adapted to lock the elevatorcontroller, with an actuating -lever adapted to operate said means, asecond lever adapted to be shifted by the elevator-door, as it is being opened and closed, a plunger or detent adapted to be brought into position by said second lever when it is actuated by the door as it is being opened, to lock the aforesaid actuating-lever to prevent the actuation of said lever to the position which it has when said means release said controller, said plunger or detent being removed from said position by said lever When it is actuated by the door as it is being closed, substantially as described.

9. In an elevator, the combination of the elevator-car, a controller-cable and clamping mechanism located upon the car, with lever mechanism under the control of the attendant, adapted to release said clamping mechanism from its engagement with the controller-cable, and a detent adapted to be placed in position by the elevator-door as it is being opened, to prevent said lever mechanism from being actuated in a manner to release the clamping mechanism from said controllercable; substantially as described.

l0. In an elevator, the combination of the elevator-car, an elevator-controller, means located upon said car adapted to lock the elevator-controller, and a lever adapted to operate said means, with a detent and means for operating said detent said last-named means being operated by the elevator-shaft door as it is being opened, to prevent the actuation of said lever to the position which it has when said first-named means releases said controller and being operated by the shaft-door as it is being closed to release said detent from said lever, substantially as described.

1l. In an elevator, the combination of the elevator-car with a controller, mechanism located upon the car under the management of the attendant adapted to govern said controller, and a detent adapted to be placed in position by the elevator-door as it is being opened to prevent said mechanism from being actuated in a manner to put said controller in condition to permit of the travel of the car, substantially as described.

12. In an elevator, the combination of the IIO IZO

elevator-car, a controller-cable and clamping clutch-blocks from the controller-cable, and a plunger under the control of the attendant extending through the floor of the car connected with said lever and adapted to operate the saine, and a detent adapted to be brought into position bythe eleVator-dooras it is being opened to prevent the actuation of said plunger, substantially as described.

In an elevator, the combination of clamping mechanism and a contro1ler-rope adapted to be engaged thereby, With a lever adapted to release said clamping mechanism from its engagement With the eontroller-eable, 

